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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg |
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SPF-Interpol Operations
Against Illegal Soccer Betting Activities |
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Between 24 October to 18 November 2007,
Singapore police conducted a series of island-wide raids targeted at
illegal soccer bookmaking activities and arrested a total of 20 persons
for illegal soccer bookmaking and gambling activities. |
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In addition, 86 computers, 2 laptops, 2
modems and cash amounting to twenty-four thousand dollars were seized. |
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These raids were part of “Operation SOGA”
(short for Soccer Gambling) consisting of simultaneous operations
against illegal soccer betting conducted in several Asian countries and
coordinated by Interpol’s Operation Secretariat. |
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The operations were timed to coincide with
the major soccer seasons. Planning for action against illegal soccer
betting activities commenced in early June 2007 when senior officers
from the various law enforcement agencies in Asia gathered together to
discuss strategies on how to deal with the situation. |
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Arising from this meeting, members formed an
Expert Group comprising members from seven countries: China, Hong Kong,
Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. |
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The Expert Group provides a regional
cooperation platform against illegal soccer bookmaking and gambling
activities. Its objectives are to coordinate the exchange of
intelligence and enhance the capabilities of the law enforcement
officers with a view to cripple the illegal activities posed by these
bookmakers. |
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Once the Expert Group was established, it
worked quickly to streamline the operation against the illegal soccer
gambling activities in Asia which was split into 3 phases. |
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Phase 1 consisted of the participating
countries’ officers discussing the coordination and operational details,
culminating in the endorsement of an Operational Agreement. |
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Phase 2 involved training to enhance
capacity building and intelligence gathering capabilities in August
2007. |
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These culminated in the countries’
anti-illegal soccer betting operations carried out in Phase 3. The
amount of bets involved across all participating countries for Operation
SOGA was US$680 million. |
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Persons convicted for acting as a bookmaker
face a fine of not less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000 and a
maximum jail term of 5 years. Persons convicted for betting with an
illegal bookmaker face a maximum fine of $5,000 or a maximum jail term
of 6 months. |
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Increasingly, soccer betting has become one
of the more popular forms of gambling activity amongst Singaporeans.
While there are numerous legitimate avenues for soccer betting, some
people still prefer to place bets with the illegal soccer bookmakers. |
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Assistant Director, Specialised Crime
Division, Criminal Investigation Department, Deputy Assistant
Commissioner Wong Choong Mann said, "The close cooperation between the
different countries makes this operation possible and a success.
Criminals should not think that the police are not able to coordinate
our intelligence and enforcement efforts just because we live in
different borders. We urge the public not to bet with these illegal
bookmakers and the police will not hesitate to take strong enforcement
action against such illegal activities." |
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
23 November 2007 at 10am |
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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg Media Release
23 Nov 2007 |
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FrontPage Edition: Sat 1 December 2007
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